Intercessory Prayer
Stand in the Breach
To stand in the breach is often used as a metaphor for intercessory prayer. It’s a military metaphor.
A breach is a hole in the wall created by an attacking army. Once the wall is breached, the defending army must fight to stop the invading army from entering. It’s an all-out struggle to defend their city and those taking refuge therein, including their own wives and children.
The warriors standing in the breach were the city’s last defense against total devastation at the hands of the enemy.
The Power of Intercession
At the time of the prophet Ezekiel, the people of God were rebellious and worshiped false Gods. Judgment was imminent, but God - full of mercy - sought to deliver them.
“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30; ESV)
One man could have saved an entire nation from exile, but God found none.
We see a similar story during the Exodus. God delivered His people from 400 years of slavery, but almost immediately, they rebelled and began worshipping a golden calf. God’s response was to destroy them and start over with the family of Moses, but this time was different.
“Therefore he [God] said he would destroy them [Israelites] — had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.” (Psalm 106:23; ESV)
Moses stood in the breach before the Lord to intercede for the people - a people that didn’t even want him as their leader. As a result, God’s wrath was turned away.
One man’s commitment to pray changed the fate of an entire nation.
Who Will Pray For Them?
God is searching the land, looking for somebody to stand in the breach for others.
Will you stand in the breach to fight back the darkness that is trying to claim the lives of your family and friends?
Some of the saddest words in all the Bible are those said by God to Ezekiel, “I searched the land for someone to stand in the breach, but I found none.” May God never say those words again. May God find you.
For whom are you standing in the breach? This is not a one-time prayer. Are you willing to stand and fight, to intercede day after day, for as long as it takes?
If we are disciplined in our prayer life, the hand of God will move.
Keep Ringing the Bell
The great thing about prayer is that anyone can do it. Prayer can be very relational and up-lifting as we linger in the presence of God with no agenda, but intercession is different. Intercession is warfare. What prevents most people from becoming true prayer warriors is that they give up too quickly.
It’s easy to pray for something one time. It’s easy to pray for one week. Everything feels fresh and natural. Words just flow, but when that feeling fades, we become discouraged and unmotivated. Intercession becomes wearisome. It feels like work.
When that happens, will you continue to pray, or will you relent?
There’s no reason why we should work harder at our day jobs than we do in our prayers. Our prayers will accomplish far more than anything we will ever do with our hands. Don’t quit. Keep getting after it because we are at war, and prayer is our battle cry.
Charles Spurgeon described prayer as ringing a bell in heaven.
“Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so lazily. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.”
Boldly grab the rope of heaven and yank it unceasingly with all your strength. Don’t relent. Ring the bell, and God will answer.
Discipline Your Prayer Life
Everybody wants to be a prayer warrior until it’s time to pray. Desire is not enough; conviction is not enough.
In the working world, when things are considered vital to success, checklists are made to ensure nothing is forgotten. For example, pilots have a checklist for everything because even the most experienced pilots can forget small, yet crucial, details.
If we value and believe God answers prayer, then we must be disciplined in prayer. The impact of your life will never exceed the level of your prayer life. Create a prayer list, and commit yourself to praying through it daily.
Your prayers won’t feel fresh and inspired every day. Standing in the breach (intercession) is hard work, but if you’re committed to it, you can move mountains.
Simple Strategy
Assign a relevant verse or promise from scripture to each prayer point. Establish a long-term prayer and a short-term prayer for each one. Use that to guide your prayer each day.
Pray With, Not Just For
Don’t just pray for people. Pray with people.
Praying with people is relational. It shows people they are not alone and that they have someone to help carry their burdens. It leads to further vulnerability.
Praying with people is discipleship. It teaches people how to pray and encourages them. It allows us to demonstrate missional prayer - prayer beyond ourselves.
When we pray with people, even “unanswered” prayers can bless and encourage.
It’s great to pray for people privately, and when you do, message them. Let them know that you’re praying for them, or even better, send a brief prayer in a message, but some of your most powerful ministry will be praying with people.
Never miss an opportunity to pray with somebody.
